hurry up and wait

I’ve got peak sensitivity this week. Woke up irritated by the bird singing outside my window. Went for a long walk around the park and the sunshine did help—so did the chocolate I ate as soon as I got home. Now I’m watching a Law & Order marathon and just saw an episode I’d never seen before! So maybe I’m coming out of this funk. I’ve got too many open tabs in my life right now. My inbox is empty but I’ve got taxes to file, which means there’s a stack of receipts, 1099s, and pay stubs that needs my attention. My editor hasn’t responded to my request for help, so I’ve decided to go ahead and finish this short story even though I’m over the word limit—again. If he doesn’t like what I’ve done, I’ll have to develop yet another pitch. I want to use a certain font for the cover of Mother of the Sea but can’t reach the designer and it’s listed as “free for personal use.” I’m selling this book, so that makes it professional or commercial use. If he doesn’t respond soon, I’ll have to find a substitute font and have the cover redesigned because otherwise I’m risking potential legal action. Thought I found two experts to proof the book for me but one never responded and the other had to pull out due to time constraints. So now I’m trying to line up more readers with expertise in the Yoruba language and Ifá religion. Not a crisis, but it does mean I won’t have the book out by April 1st. I’ve ordered printed proofs but I’m heading to NC tomorrow so I won’t be here when they arrive. I just need to slow down and stop trying to rush for no reason (other than my obsessive drive to wrap things up). SFF legends Nnedi Okorafor and Nalo Hopkinson both shared the cover on Twitter, which I thought was incredibly generous. The response from their followers was really encouraging but that enthusiasm won’t expire if the book comes out a week later than planned. Right?

Time for more chocolate otherwise I might throttle the neighbor’s dog to make it stop barking…